Professor Anderson's exposé of "spirit rappings," being a series of letters to the editors of the Baltimore Sun, together with a "writing medium's" reply

PRICE PER COPT, 12J CENTS.

PROFESSOR ANDERSON'S
EXPOSE OF

SPIRIT HAPPIES

BEING A SERIES OF LETTERS

??

TO THE EDITORS OF THE BALTIMORE SUN.

TOGEIIIKR WITH

A "WRITING MEDIUM'S" REPLY.

1 ( thauh my God ihe Sun and Moon are both hutif up so high,
That no presumptuous band can stretch and pull them from the Sky i
If tliry were not, I have no doubt that some Reforming- Ass
Would recommnnd to take them down, and light the world with Gai !'

SOLD BV SAMUEL C. JOLLIE, 300 BROADWAY.
1863.

f*

PROFESSOR AIDERSOFS

EXPOSE OF

"SPIRIT EAPPINGS,"

SSring a $nm of %t\im

TO THE EDITORS OF THE BALTIMORE SUN.

TOGETHER WITH

a^toritisg fttaimraV Heplg.

"I thank my God the San and D^oot are both hang up so high,
That no presumptuous hand can stretch andpull-them from the Sky;
If they were not, I have no doubt that some Reforming Asa
(Would recommend to take them down, and light the world with Sat J"

NEW YORK":

FRIKTEB BY S. BOOTH, 109 NASSAU STREET.
1853.

PROFESSOR ANDERSON'S

EXPOSE OF SPIRIT RAPPIIGS.

The Renowned Wizard, Professor Anderson, having under-
taken the exposure of the Spiritual Rapping Humbug and its
artfuJ practitioners, he seems determined to neglect no means
for accomplishing it in the most effectual manner possible.
His skill and ingenuity had well fitted him for this task. He
has, therefore, in a series of letters, which he addressed to the
Editors of public press, gone into the rise and progress of this
delusion, laying bare the trickery by which its high-priests and
priestess manage to dupe so many victims throughout the
country, bringing misery and untold ruin to many by the de-
thronement of reason, or subjection to such unwholesome in-
fatuation as to unfit them for all the practical duties of life.
The following is the first of the series of letters.

/ram ^rafesm Mersait, in dSipasttiau nf tjje Ipiritoal
Happing Imnlrag.

Baltimore, April 5th, 1853,
To the Editors of the Baltimore Sun: Sirs — I hope you will
excuse this apology from a public character who does not desire
notoriety, but a wish to save his fellow-creatures from the
fangs of a league of imposters, who, under the cloak of spirit-
ualism, have done so much irreparable injury throughout the
Union.

D PROFESSOR ANDERSON S

Prior to my expose, it will be necessary to commence with
the origin of the imposture.

The following is an account of the origin of the knockings at
Rochester, from a work by Chas. W. Elliott, Esq., published by
Harper Bros., of New York.

" Mysterious Noises, which are supposed by many to be
communications from the Spirit World, together with all the
explanation which can as yet be given of the matter.

"Rochester, D. M. Dewey, Arcade Hall, 1850.

"Let no reader at this stage of the business, closing the
work in an energetic way, exclaim, 'Humbug,' ' Delusion,' or
'Tom Foolery.' Should he do so, it would not he well with
him. Stupid it may be, but what if it should be true ? The
labor pays.

"The house seems to have been a quiet and respectable
house for aught that is stated, and there is no reason to sup-
pose that the timber had been practised upon by elves, or the
good people, who haunt the woods. A remarkable fact in its
history is, that 'it was moved into on the 11th December, 1847,
by the family of Mr. John D. Fox, so the narrative relates,
through which this influx, or manifestation, or developement has
come to us. If we can believe the house, the house then re-
ceived a shock, from which it did not soon recover, and one
which is not easily explained. Let us, however, take note of
the words of another, who took down the account from the
mouth of Mrs* Fox, a venerable lady of some sixty winters, she
then being at the house of Mr. Partridge in New York on the
1st of May, 1851 — for by the mouths of two witne&ses, perhaps^
this thing will be established,

"'Twas in December of the year 1847, that she moved from
Rochester into this hired house. Very soon they were disturb-
ed after going to bed, by various noises, which, however, did
not attract much attention, as they supposed them to be made
by the rats, which do sometimes, of themselves have strange
doings. (It is a pity that the age and condition of the house

EXPOSE OF SPIRIT RAPPINGS. /

are not stated in either account.) They were, however, dis-
turbed, and indeed kept awake sometime, until they began to
suspect that mischievous persons might be playing tricks.
Examination, however, did not show any such explanation, and
they were obliged to content themselves with the rats, until
after a space of nearly four months, when on the last day of
March, year 1848, they determined to go to bed early, so as to
get a good night's rest, in spite of all noise. But this was not
permitted. The thought then struck Mrs. Fox, whose bed
was in the same room with that of her two daughters, Marga-
retta, aged 15, and Katy, aged 12, that she would question the
noise.

" ' Who makes the noise V
" 'Is it made by any person living?'
" 'Is it made by any one dead ?' [Rap.]
" 'If any injured spirit?' [Rap.]
" 'If injured by her or her family?'
" 'If by various other names?'

" Getting no farther reply, she arose, somewhat excited, and
called her husband, and some of the neighbors, who were yet up.
" The two girls, so Mrs. Fox states, were not apparently as
much excited as she was, but entered with some spirit into the
doings of the other spirit, one of them snapping her fingers and
asking the spirit to do as they did, which it did.

"One of the neighbors followed up the injured spirit, asking
when the injury was done ? five raps, indicating, as they sup-
posed, five years.

" ' What name did the injury?' Rap, at the name of a man

who had lived there some five years before.

" ' Is the body here, then ? — in the cellar ?'

" A rap was heard, and they determined to dig, but somehow

learned that they mnst delay it four months, and of course did

so. Mrs. F. stated, that upon digging at the time mentioned,

her son and two others found some pieces of bone, but whether

or not those of a man, does not seem to have been ascertained.

" The person accused by the ' Spirit,' she said, 'was much

8 PROFESSOR ANDERSON S

outraged, but took no very efficient steps to remove so question-
able an accusation.' Mrs. Fox stated that she left the house,
and lived with some friends, as the excitement for or against
them was so considerable — but, strange to say, the sounds fol-
lowed her two girls, and in the course of the summer the alpha-
bet was revealed to the son when alone in the wonderful house.
' The son's wife also for a time,' she stated, ' was a medium,
for such is the title now used, but has somehow lost the gift. '
(Signed,) " Ch. W. Elliott.

"New York, May, 1851."

The above is the first heard of the manifestations, which
have spread wide over the country. The originators, strange
to say, are now the leading stars of the knocking league, and
are admitted to be the best performers in their line — they are
certainly the most successful. It is somewhat strange that
ladies should continue to be the best " Media. " The secret of
this is, that there is a natural delicacy in asking questions of
a lady, which we would be inclined to expose in the opposite
sex. Hence, in a great measure, the succession of the delusion.

Those ladies did not stop at home in their peaceful village.
Oh ! no ! They had a special call from God (?) Like the Apos-
tles of old, they had a "mission" to perform, which was to
eclipse even that of the Son of God. "Healing the sick,"
" casting out devils, " " raising the dead, " " feeding the multi-
tude, " " walking on the sea " — all the miracles of our Saviour
must fall into insignificance, when compared with the knocks
and raps of the F*x*s and F**h*s.

Professor Anderson.

EXPOSE OP SPIRIT RAPPINGS. »

©HOTNB ILJEWIEIB
Mm 3f5raftssnc SlmttraiiiJ m tl)t fprit 3inpnstttres.

Baltimore, April 6th, 1853.

To the Editors of the Baltimore Sun. — How long will an
intelligent, enlightened, and generous nation suffer itself to be
imposed upon by a vile juggle. Why do not the professors of
this science tell to the world what it shall benefit by the mani-
festations ? Why not make the system generally known ?
Why not publish a key to the Spirit Rapping science? If an
important discovery has been made whereby mankind is to re-
ceive a benefit, and if by these communications we are to dis-
cover a new theory in life, death, and immortality — let all have
the benefit of the discovery. This, I fear, would be asking to
much of the Spirit Rapping community — it would not benefit
them. If we were all as wise as they are, then " Othello's
occupation would be gone," or (like myself) if every one knew
as much as I do, I should have but a few to witness my wonders
of natural magic.

The mystery of my incomprehensibilities will injure no one,
as the public are perfectly aware that no imposture is intended,
and special care is taken that the most weak-minded individual
may not imagine that what he beholds is produced by super-
human or spiritual agency. Were the Spirit Rappers to adopt
my system, there would be no crime, no dupes, no victims, no
humbug. The thing would go for what it was worth, and no
more. Were the Spirit Rappers to publish the following Pro-
gramme, we should be prepared to receive them as profession-
als whose influence would not be more injurious than our own.

PROGRAMME— IMPORTANT NOTICE.

EXTRAORDINARY DISCOVERY. ROCHESTER KNOCKINGS ILLUSTRATED.
The Misses F., (from Rochester) Witches of the 19th Cen-

10 professor Anderson's

tury, beg most respectfully to announce to the citizens of

that they will, for a short time only, hold their

SOIREES DIABOLIQUES; OR, IMPENETRABLE KNOCKINGS!

AS PRACTISED BY THEM IN ROCHESTER WITH THE

having astonished the whole of America's most intelligent citi-
zens by their extraordinary

H.-A.DE»I*m'0 POWERS!

This wonderful secret, which cannot be discovered by the
most intelligent, will be illustrated by their most splendid appa-
ratus, constructed for the purpose of deceiving the most learned
philosophers of modern times. The whole machinery is got up
by them, under their own superintendence, and at an enormous
expense, defying the greatest of Conjurors, Magicians, and
Wizards, with which this country now abounds, to discover
the impenetrable secrets of the

WITCHES Or THE NINETEENTH CENTURY !

During the Rapping Soirees a number of electric, acoustic,
and ventriloquial

3?3eCBKr0M3S3XrA!

will be brought into action, by which the senses of every be-
holder will be so deceived that they will be led to believe they
are in immediate communication with the

The whole of this interesting exhibition will conclude by
their commanding all the furniture and spectators in the room to
dance a quadrille.

Admission, One Dollar.

N. B. — No nervous, weak-minded, ignorant, or superstitious

EXPOSE OF SPIRIT RAPPINGS. 11

person will be admitted. It is the desire of the Misses F. not
to injure the weak and superstitious, their powers being so ex-
traordinary as to require the strongest minds to appreciate their
astounding wonders.

This, Sirs, however, would not answer their purpose. Al-
though their system is perfect in its way, there is not sufficient
in it to make up an entertainment. Consequently their audi-
ence, or victims, are led, not to witness a juggle, (which it is,)
but (as they suppose,) a communication with — they do not say
which — " Heaven or Hell. " They (the Rappers ) do not tell
us from which they come — sufficient, there are the knocks !

If intelligent persons would take the trouble to inquire, this
juggle would soon be exploded.

There is nothing new in the theory of this Spirit Rapping
humbug. It is an old imposture exhumed, and it is a great
pity that, before some people make up their minds to go crazy
about what they knowingly tell us is a new revelation, they do
not take some pains to acquaint themselves with such facts as
are frequently to be found. New humbugs of this sort are bad
enough, but old ones, re-galvanized, should not be tolerated
outside a lunatic asylum.

In this day of wonders it may be well to state that old wood-
en tables were known to be electrical nearly a century ago.
Upon the 145th page of the British Annual Register, of 1760,
will be found the following, viz. :

Oct. 12. — "In a letter from Paris we are informed of a
singular discovery said to have been made there by one Father
Ammersin. He pretends to have found out that wood of every
kind becomes highly electrical when deprived of all its moisture
and kept perfectly dry. His method of making the experiment
is to put a piece of wood in a warm oven or chimney, where
a constant fire is kept, and to let it remain there until it is quite
dry — after which, in order to prevent its acquiring fresh moist-
ure, he boils it in wax or some kind of drying oil, or otherwise
coats it over carefully with a strong coat of varnish. A wood-

12 professor Anderson's

en cylinder thus prepared, aud suffered to grow cold, it is said
will yield, on being rubbed, a greater quantity of electric fire
than even an ordinary glass globe of the same diamater."

The Rappers have taken advantage of this scientific phe-
nomenon, which is nothing more than their mode of moving
the " Spiritual tables," of which so much has been said, and so
many astonished at the trick of the learned Father.

As I proceed I will advance the evidence of other parties,
who, at the outset, pronounced the whole an imposture ! The
first will be the evidence of a relative of the inventors, which
will show that the originators had planned the imposture from
the commencement, and had carried it out as such. Mrs. Nor-
man Culver's evidence, I have no doubt, was correct on the
outset, but her Expose caused the inventors to seek a new
Theory, which they found, and which has answered their pur-
pose more effectually. You can judge of Mrs. Culver's evi-
dence, which is as follows :

" I am, by marriage, a connection of the Fox Girls. Their
brother married my husband's sister. The girls have been a
great deal at my house, and, for about two years, I was a very
sincere believer in the Eappings, but some things which I saw
when I was visiting the girls at Rochester made me suspect
that they were deceiving. I resolved to satisfy myself in some
way — and some time afterwards I made a proposition to Cathe-
rine to assist her in producing the manifestations. I had a
cousin visiting me from Michigan, who was going to consult
the " Spirit," and I told Catherine that, if they intended going
to Detroit, it would be a great thing for them to convince him.
I also told her that, if I could do anything to help her, I would
do it cheerfully — that I should probably be able to answer all
the questions he would ask, and I would do it if she would show
me how to make the raps. She said that, as Margaretla was
absent, she wanted somebody to help her, and that if I would
become a medium, she would explain it all to me. She said
that when my cousin consulted the Spirits, I must sit next to
her, and touch her arm when the right letter was called. I did

EXPOSE OF SPIRIT RAPPINGS. 13

so, and was able to answer nearly all the questions correctly.
After I had helped her in this way a few times, she revealed to
me the secret. The Raps are produced with the toes. All
the toes are used. After nearly a week's practice, with Cathe-
rine showing me how, I could produce them perfectly mvself.

" At first it was very hard work to do it. Catherine told me
to warm my feet, or put them in warm water, and it would
then be easier work to rap. She said that she sometimes had
to warm her feet three or four times during the course of an
evening. I found that heating my feet did enable me to rap a
great deal easier. I have sometimes produced a hundred and
fifty raps in succession. I can rap with all the toes on both
feet — it is most difficult to rap with the great toe. Catherine
told me how to manage to answer the questions. She said it
was generally easy enough to answer right, if the one who ask-
ed the questions called the alphabet. She said the reason why
she asked people to write down several names on paper, and
then point to them till the spirit rapped at the right one, was
to give them a chance to watch the countenance and motions
of the person, and that in that way they could nearly always
guess right. She also explained how they held down and
moved tables. (Mrs. Culver here gave some illustrations of
the tricks.) She told me that all I should have to do to make
raps heard on the table, would be to put my foot on the bottom
of the table when I rapped, and that when I wished to make
the raps sound distant on the wall, I must make them louder,
and direct my own eyes earnestly to the spot where I wished
them to be heard. She said if I could put my foot to the bottom
of the door, the raps would be heard on the top of the door.

" Catharine told me that when the committee held their
ankles in Rochester, the Dutch servant girl rapped with her
knuckles under the floor, from the cellar. The girl was in-
structed to rap whenever she heard their voices calling the
spirits. Catharine also showed me how they made the sounds
of sawing and plaining boards. (The whole trick was explain-
ed to us.) When I was at Rochester, last January, Marga-

14 PROFESSOR ANDERSON S

retta told me that when people insisted on seeing her feet and
toes, she could produce a few raps with her knees and ankles.

" Elizabeth Fish, (Mrs. Fish's daughter) who now lives with
her father, was the first one who produced these raps. She
accidentally discovered the way to make them, by playing with
her toes against the foot-board while in bed. Catharine told
me thai the reason why Elizabeth went west to live with her
father, was because she was too conscientious to become a medi-
um. The whole secret was revealed to me, with the under-
standing that I should practice as a medium when the girls
were away. Catharine said that, whenever I practiced, I better
have my little girl with me, and make folks believe that she
was the medium, for, she said, " They would never suspect so
young a child of any tricks." After I had obtained the whole
secret, I plainly told Catharine that my only object was to find
out how these tricks were done, and that I should never go any
farther in this imposition. She was very much frightened, and
said she believed I meant to tell of it, and expose them ; and if
I did, she would swear it was a lie. She was so nervous and
excited, that I had to sleep with her that night. When she
was instructing me how to be a medium, she told me how fright-
ened they used to get, in New York, for fear somebody would de-
tect them, and gave me the whole history of all the tricks they
played upon the people there. She said that once Margaretta
spoke aloud, and that the whole party believed it was a spirit."
(Signed,) Mrs. Norman Culver.

CERTIFICATE.

" We hereby certify that Mrs. Culver is one of the most re-
putable and intelligent ladies in the town of Arcadia. We
were present when she made the disclosures. We had heard
the same from her before, and we cheerfully bear testimony
that there cannot be the slightest doubt of the truth of the whole
statement.

(Signed,) C. G. Pomeroy, M. D.,

Rev. D. S. Chase."

EXPOSE OP SPIRIT RAPPINGS. 15

/ram ^rafrarar 3nittara nit tjrt fpirit mappings.

Baltimore, April 7th, 1853.
To the Editors of the Baltimore Sun : Sirs — The profes-
sional Spirit Rappers go about in gangs of eight or ten, with a
well-trained " medium." The business of these parties, male
or female, is — prior to the commencement of their operations
— to worm out the secrets of every family of note in every city
they visit. A regular book is kept, (alphabetically) with the
names of such families or members thereof. Each individual
who visits the " medium " places his or her name in a book of
registry, previous to the interview. The former register is
looked over, the name is at once recognized, together with
every event that has occurred in the family. All is known:
The deaths which have taken place — who have been lately
married, or who are about to be married — who has left the
country, and wither they are gone; in short, the whole is known,
and invariably arranged with great precision, tact, and system.
They also find out those persons (who abound in every city)
who are always ready to run after any new " ism" or "seism,"
and who become, sooner or later, either their victims or else
confederates.

There is another class of Confederates ; he or she is in the
room with the medium. The visitor supposes this confederate
to be a visitor like himself. Now this is one of the most es-
sential and important parts of the imposture to render it success-
ful— as, for example : The visitor has asked certain questions ;
he hears the raps, which are not satifactory ; in fact, the com-
munication is incorrect. The confederate then addresses the
visitor thus : " It is very strange ; I asked a number of questions
a few minutes ago, and all to my astonishment were answered
correctly!" The confederate then says that he will again try,

16 professor Anderson's

and, that the visitor may have no doubt, he says to him : " I will
ask a number of questions, which I will first communicate to
you, — question and answer." The confederate then commu-
nicates all to the visitor, and then they address the medium.
The communication is made with the Spirit World. Every
question is correctly answered ! The visitor is astonished at
the correctness of the answers — as they are verbatim what he
was told by the confederate during their conversation. The
confederate continues in conversation with the visitor {poor
victim !) until he has drawn from him question and answer of
all he intended to ask the medium. A short time elapses, dur-
ing which the whole is communicated to the medium, who is
now prepared to answer all his questions without mistake,
and the visitor is then induced by the generous confederate to
try the medium once more. He does so. There is no mistake
this time. — Every question is answered correctly. Oh ! most
wonderful ! he exclaims. He is quite satisfied, and, bewildered
and astonished, he goes home and tells his friends and relatives
of the wonderful raps and mediums. They also must have their
dollar's worth of communication. Such is the system of con-
federates, which, of course, is the most essential part of the
juggle.

The raps, how are they produced ? or, are they real ? Mrs.
Culver, in her evidence, which has been previously referred to,
tells us of one system. I must now inform you of others. Imagine
the medium to be possessed of the power of ventriloquism, it
would then be no difficult matter to convince a spectator that
the raps proceeded from any part of the room — from the table
— from beneath it, or from his own stomach, or that of any
other spectator present. My little friend Blitz would make an
excellent ventriloquial medium.

The great secret of the affair, however, is in the construc-
tion of the tables used by the professional rappers.

Suppose, for example, two rooms, one communicating with
the other. The medium, tables, and confederates in one room,
and apparatus with a galvanic battery in the other. The wires

EXPOSE OF SPIRIT RAPPINGS. 17

trom the battery pass under the door, or out through the wall
beneath the skirting boards, passing under the carpet to the
legs of the table ; a communication is thus formed with the
table in which there is concealed a magnet, attached to which is
a small lever working upon a centre. The moment the gal-
vanic current is applied, it raises the lever — the moment it is
disconnected, the hammer of the lever strikes the table — rap,
rap, rap, as often as the medium please. Of course, to render
the delusion perfect, much must depend on the construction of
the table, or wherever the apparatus is placed — the manufac-
ture of which must be such as to deceive the machinist and
those who have a knowledge of electricity, &c. (See Cut.)

The public can have an opportunity of hearing the raps
nightly, upon a table which I have prepared to illustrate the
system by which the raps are produced, which is on the above
principles. Confederates, paragraph writers, agents, the above
described machinery, and a galvanic battery form the whole re-
quired to communicate with the world of spirits.

Sirs : It may not be generally known that, in connection
with the Spirit- Rapping Delusion, they have their Newspapers,
Magazines, and Publications of various descriptions, edited by
some of the most talented writers in the United States —

" To what base uses may we not return."

They have their agents in every city in the Union, from Maine
to California. There are in full operation several spiritual
banks throughout the Union. A large amount of capital has
been invested in the " imposture." No stone has been left
unturned by the projectors of this " speculation " to make it tell ;
and it will not be disputed that it has made a decided hit, and
at this moment is the most popular mania in the United States.
My astonishment is, that it has not been denounced, long
ere this, by the whole "Press" of the Union, which is ever
foremost in the "cause of humanity." Reports of victims,
trials by courts of law, of the infamous jugglers — paragraphs of
all kinds describing the wonderful effects in various parts of the

18 professor Anderson's

country — anecdotes and tales of the most marvellous miracles,
which are supposed to be accomplished by the Spirits in every
State — all these have been recorded by the press, and swallow-
ed by the public as undeniable facts, till the delusion has taken
such a hold upon the public as to render it a difficult matter to
counteract the imposition.

There is not a rational member of the press but knows
that the whole is a base unnatural delusion — having nothing to
recommend it — no foundation but imposition. It has been al-
lowed to go on unheeded, with the exception as before stated.
Hence the cause of the great success of the pernicious delusion !

Had that mighty engine and public protector, the Press, de-
nounced it, many of your fellow-citizens would have been saved
from premature death. The Lunatic Asylums throughout the
Union would have had fewer inmates by hundreds, and many a
now miserable family would have been happy. The Rappings
Swindle would have gone the way of " Millensm" " Salem
Witchcraft" and the " Cock Lane Ghost," and remembered
only as one of the popular humbugs of its day.

I trust that the public will not think that I seek notoriety or
gain by this expose. I have nothing to gain ; on the contrary,
I shall be the loser, from the very fact that I have placed my-
self in a position, as a public man, to be attacked. However,
should I make a few enemies by the transaction, I will save
them the trouble of calling me what I know I am myself — a
humbug. — (This I leave, however, to the public.)

If I can but save one victim, I am sufficiently repaid for my
labor. I trust in God I may be the humble instrument in
saving many from lunacy and death.

I know that I will have a hard battle to fight, but there is
one thing I will promise you, sirs — J will not desert my cause,
but will fight to the death every " rapper " in the Union —
proving not only to the public, but to the rappers themselves,
that their so-called Spiritual Manifestations are nothing more
than a perversion of science ; (when I say science, I perhaps
give it to much importance) — a vile juggle.

EXPOSE OP SPIRIT RAPPINGS. 19

FOWIE^M ILJETIHEIB
/runt pttSam Mram nn tju spirit Hupping Smpnstnrt.

Baltimore, Apbil 8th, 1853.

To the Editors of the Baltimore Sun. — The statistical ac-
counts of the various lunatic asylums throughout the Union re-
turn 573 lunatics as victims to this destructive delusion, while
17 persons have committed suicide, caused by a monomaniac
belief in the spiritual powers of these juggling pretended com-
municators with the immaterial world. Is there no public pro-
tection for the weak and credulous ?

When the cholera or any other malignant epidemic makes
its appearance amongst us, we become alarmed, not only for
our own safety, but also for the safety of our friends and fellow-
citizens. Boards of Health are constituted, to check (if possi-
ble) the disease on the instant. Why should not Boards of
Enquiry and Protection be formed and maintained, to warn
and screen the public from a seductive imposture, which is as
malignant in form and effect, and which engenders that worst
of human maladies— -madness 1

Ought not the authorities of every city where the rapping
delusionists make their appearance, to investigate the imposture,
and protect the public from madness and suicide, as much as
they would from cholera or any other fatal disease 1

I call upon the assistance, in God's name, of all intelligent
and well-meaning persons, to assist in destroying the impos-
ture and its baneful influences. The whole juggle is inconsis-
tent with the character of God. What blasphemy! when
ignorant impostors tell us " that they can hold communication
with the Saviour of Man, by knocking on a table." Is this the
character of Him who fed the multitudes and raised the dead ?
Are the wretched impostors not afraid of God's wrath, and of
being j like Ananias and Sapphira, struck dead?

20 PROFESSOR ANDERSON S

New discoveries are daily being made in the scientific world,
by which mankind benefit — but all discoveries hitherto are con-
sistent with the great laws of Nature and Nature's God. The
spiritual juggle is inconsistent with both.

We are, (I have no doubt) surrounded by spirits; but God
has placed a veil before mortal eyes, which completely hides
from us the World of Spirits. When He, by death, removes
that veil, this World of Spirits will be visible to our de-
parted spirits. There is a wide barrier placed between Mortals
and the Spirit World. None has yet appeared from "that
bourne whence no traveler returns. " The dead will rest,
as will the spirit, till the last trumpet shall sound. The souls
of the departed will not meanwhile be troubled by Spiritual or
any other kind of Rappers.

We have no instance of " Spiritual communication " with
earth, either from Sacred or other history, nor of the dead revisit-
ing the earth, except in the cases of the raising of Samuel by
the Witch of Endor, and of Lazarus by oui Saviour. " Ham-
let's father walked like a ghost, but spoke so like a man when
he said —

" That incestuous beast,
With witchcraft of his wits and traitorous gifts,"

that I do not give him credit as being a Ghost.

In conclusion, and in order that the public may have faith in
the above statement, I challenge the whole Spirit Rapping
League, from Maine to California, for $5,000 or $10,000,
that there is not one of them can produce a knock on my table
which I cannot account for by natural causes, consistent with
the well understood laws of Natural Philosophy. With thanks
for the use of your valuable columns,

I remain, Sirs,

Your obliged servant,

J. H. Anderson,
The Wizard of the North.

EXPOSE OF SPIKIT RAPPINGS. 21

a wmm wamm mm

&o professor ^Intorson's £ziltxs.

Baltimore, April 11th, 1853.

To the Editors of the Baltimore Sun : Gentlemen — My atten-
tion has been specially directed, for the last four or five days, to
several letters, occupying a large space in your valuable sheet,
professing to be an expose of what is now called " Spiritual
Manifestations ." Knowing your general character for im-
partiality, I have taken the liberty of sending you the following
in answer to the statement made by your former correspondent,
Prof. Anderson, on the subject of " spiritualism," trusting you
will accoixl it that consideration which a fair discussion of any
subject interesting to the public ought to be entitled to. To
pass upon all the statements made by the Professor would be
rather an elaborate matter ; I shall, therefore, confine myself to
a few simple remarks in refutation of what the talented Pro-
fessor has so shrewdly and ingeniously set forth. He says that
the whole is a juggle, a delusion, an imposture, got up for the
purpose of making money — that the originators are ladies, and
are now considerably rich, &c. This latter fact, I cannot pre-
tend to dispute, but that any thing like an imposture or juggling
is connected with the " Spiritual Manifestations " I unhesi-
tatingly declare to be false. Witness the numerous instances
of the most intelligent men of our day having become, by prac-
tical examination, and personal enquiry into the minutiae of the
subject, confirmed in the belief that there " are modes of com-
munication " between this world and immateriality, which were
never before dreamed of, but which the rapid strides of advanc-
ing knowledge and science are daily developing before our
eyes.

There are hundreds of the most respectable of our fellow-
citizens, of both sexes, who will gladly testify to this fact, that

22 professor Anderson's

no matter how the communication is made, still there is a de-
cided method of holding conversation with any departed friend
or relative — unbelief and the opinions of skeptics to the con-
trary notwithstanding. The Professor states that there have
been no instances wherein spirits from the other world have
had communication with us poor mortals, excepting in two cases,
viz. : Lazarus raised from the grave by our Saviour, and Sam-
uel by the Witch of Endor. These, however, are quite extrane-
ous. The matter to be proved is, * whether or not we can hold
converse with those who have gone before us, to the invisible,
immaterial, or spiritual world V I, for one, firmly believe so ;
but my own asserted opinion would be of little use, when op-
posed to the general incredulity which always attaches to any
new Theory. I could cite various authorities, of the most un-
impeachable character, in support of the position which I have
assumed, in order to controvert or entirely do away with the
impression which Prof. Anderson's intended expose may have
created. I cannot but give him credit for the manly manner
in which he comes before the public, and for the very specious
and plausible explanations he gives of the imposture, as he
chooses to call it. Being myself a sincere believer in the
Spiritual manifestations, I have no doubt that what I am about
to relate will place me in a very bad position in the opinion of
the learned Professor, and those who have, no doubt, swallowed
his attempted exposure of one of the most extraordinary devel-
opements of moral science. Before relating my own experience,
let me ask one question. Why, if such progress is daily mak-
ing in Physical Science, for the benefit of mankind — why, I
say, should there not be a like progress in Spiritual Science,
when the same object is in view.

Prof. Anderson truly says, that scientific discoveries have
hitherto been a source of good to humanity. Should this new
discovery be proscribed before its intrinsic merits have been
made known ? Who can say that there is not some benefit to
accrue from the gradual developements of the various phases in
Spiritual Communication ? Every day brings forth some new

EXPOSE OF SPIRIT BAPFITVGS. 23

feet in support of Spiritualism, and when these facts are backed
by the voluntary evidence of such men as Judge Edmonds, of
New York, and various other gentlemen of the highest standing
in society, and endowed with every intellectual gift, how can
the "ipse dixit" of one man have an influence sufficiently
powerful to break down the barriers which a steady application
to, and minute investigation of, Spirituality have already so firm-
ly constructed and established ? Why are clergymen of the
various denominations of religion so suddenly become converts
to this — the only true faith ? How is it that we hear so fre-
quently of fresh converts to this ridiculous theory, (as it is con-
ventionally termed ?) The reason is, that a new era in Moral
Science has commenced — a state of things is coming about
which will completely subvert all former notions of Futurity.
Churches, Curates, Bishops, Popes, "et hoc genus omne,"
will, instead of wielding their present almost absolute powers,
be completely divested of them.

The progress of spiritualism is onward. Nothing can stay
it ; as well expect Niagara's mighty cataract to return its vol-
ume of waters to their source. The iceberg of the Arctic will
as soon melt under the simple touch of a mortal hand, as the
advance of spiritualism be retarded. Look at the convention
of spiritualists held the other day at Springfield, Mass. ; are
these individuals to be considered as humbugs, or their asser-
tions to be treated as fictions, and nothing else ? I trust not.
That this whole world will be united in one common brother-
hood I have no doubt, and that this happy period is close at hand,
I firmly believe. Witness the gigantic strides which the spirit
rappers have made in every section of this extensive country,
daily making proselytes, and becoming gradually a bodyy which
will exercise a universal and wholesome influence over the in-
terests of their fellow-creatures. That there will be many
unbelievers in our new doctrine I feel certain ; that we have
many prejudices to do away with, and deeply imbued feelings to
counteract, I am not prepared to dispute ; but that spiritualism
will ultimately succeed, I can safely pledge my word.

24 PROFESSOR ANDERSON S

Among the class of opponents by whom we are liable to be
attacked, I must particularly mention Professor Anderson. Her
as yet has been the only one who has endeavored to attack us
in our vital parts ; but, after all, has not succeeded in doing us
much injury. That he is a dangerous enemy to spiritualism is
an undoubted fact, as witnessed by his letters to you on this
subject. But what would the gentleman say if I were to tell
him, that by a spiritual communication with the soul of the great
and illustrious Father of our Country, George Washington, I
have been desired to expose him to the citizens of America
as the greatest foe to the advancement of science, and earnest-
ly entreat them to drive away from their shores one whose in-
fluence may ultimately cause a complete subversion of all our
laws, institutions, &c; this solely owing to his skepticism on
one of the most interesting branches of modern science.
Gladly shall I hail the day, and bless the breezes that shall
waft from America the " Wizard " who so boldly proclaims his
unbelief in " Spiritual Communications." I am afraid I have
transgressed my limits, and trespassed on the patience of your
readers, but I feel sure you will pardon the unintentional offence.

Should Prof. Anderson choose to continue this discussion, I
shall be prepared to adduce such facts as will not only silence
him, but set at rest all doubts which may remain in the minds
of the world generally on the subject of inter-communication
with this world and the World of Spirits. Trusting you will
excuse the length of this, in part refutation of the one-sided ar-
guments or rather assertions made by Professor Anderson, for
whom, nevertheless, I entertain the highest regard, and from
whose eyes, I sincerely trust, the scales may soon fall.

I remain, gentleman, with great respect, your obliged servant,

A Writing Medium.

The above is written under the influence of the Spirits.

N.B.— If Prof. Anderson will allow his bet of $10,000 to be
decided in a private circle, instead of a public, I will take him
up, and double the amount.

The above addressed to the " Sun office," will find me.

EXPOSE OF. SPIEIT RAPFINGS. 25

^mtarat Jntanu's «lf|i!i| fa tjit spirit ilnppiugs.

Baltimore, April 12th, 1853.

To the Editors of the Baltimore Sun : Gentlemen — I will
have no difficulty in answering the letter of your correspondent
in to-day's issue, under the signature of a "Writing Medium"(?)
there being nothing in it to require an answer.

All that he states in his communication is, that spiratualism
does exist, and will extend itself to the destruction of all our
systems, as heretofore and at present established. He also
states that it is not a juggle. That is just the difference of
opinion.

I have taken some trouble to show that it is nothing more
than a juggle of the worst kind. Your correspondent has not
advanced one single item of proof that it is not. He simply
calls on M.D's, D.D's, and Judge Edmonds, as his authorities.
The latter (Judge Edmonds) is just as likely to be humbugged
as any other citizen. 'Tis not the seat he fills that will pro-
tect him from imposition, when he submits himself to be im-
posed upon as a matter of choice. Judge Edmonds must make
further inquiries and researches into the subject, and then both
he and your correspondent will find out their error. By the
way, it might save the State of New York a considerable sum
per annum if Judge Edmonds were a medium. He could then
empanel a jury in the spirit world ; also, witnesses living and
dead. The counsel for or against the defendants might as well
arrange their matters in the world of spirits as here on earth ;
for, according to the "rapping system," there are no lies, no
false witnesses, no partial judges. The whole is the truth, and
nothing but the truth.

The most eminent lawyers and judges who have preceded
us to the spiritual world, might be called into the spiritual cir-

26 professor Anderson's

cle. Judge Edmonds might take it coolly, and await the ver-
dict from the spirit world, which, as a medium, he would un-
doubtedly hear by raps on the judicial bench before which he
sat.

If such were the case, there would be no necessity for new
trials. This, I have no doubt, is one of the innovations which
will be brought about by the rappers, when the old system is
by them abolished.

With the establishment of the spiritual science upon this
broad basis, the explorations of the old ruins of Europe, Asia,
and America will become an " obsolete idea" for we then can
call in the " builders" themselves. All history can be recti-
fied, and the blanks filled up from contemporaneous witnesses
through all time. We shall then be enabled to know directly
to the point :

" How much it cost to build the Pyramids."

" What became of the Ark after the Flood."

"The contents of the Books of the Alexandrian Library."

" Who stole the last Books of Livy."

"The Travels of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel, and whore
those people are now."

"The doings of the Dark Ages."

"The author of the Letters of Junius."

" The History of the Aztecs."

" Where Sir John Franklin is."

" What was the true fate of the President" (steamship.)

" Who struck Billy Patterson."
And all matters concerning any person, any country, any peo-
ple, or any thing that has occurred in all time, of whom or of
which Historians or Antiquarians are in the dark. Sof also,
With reference to transpiring events. Telegraphs will become
utterly nseless, except as an opposition line to the spiritual me-
diums. All that we shall have to do will be to hire a first-rate
rapping medium, and he or she, by communicating spiritually
with General Pierce and his Cabinet, can inform us of all they
are doing, or intend to do, for the next six works, which will

EXPOSE OF SPIRIT R.U'l'IXf.S. 27

l)e somnvhat ahead of the Morse and House linos; and so of
events transpiring in any and every part of the world.

I« my former letter I gave you an idea of the various sys-
tems, in full operation, for carrying out the plans of the rappers.
Your correspondent refers to the Spiritual Convention lately
held at Springfield, Mass., as unmistakeable evidence of the
truth of spiritual manifestations. My only answer to this is,
" my surprise that the Convention did not meet at Salem, Mass.,
where they could have had the benefit and assistance (no doubt)
of the. witches in their ' eery extraordinary rappings^ "

"That knocking — that knocking
Of the Spirits — all a knocking

On the ceiling and the floor.
It is positively shocking,
But why don't they stop that knocking-^
That most tremendous knocking

At the door ?"

This Springfield Convention ! what is its meaning ? who are
the parties ? " Ay, there's the rub !" Who are they ? Wliat
are their intentions ? Your correspondent does not say, beyond
stating that they are Spiritualists ! I will tell your correspon-
dent who these Spiritualists are, and what their intensions are.

" For a long time back there has been in the United States
a class of minds dissatisfied with existing religious creeds ; or
rather, perhaps, disbelieving in any religion at all. By a pro-
cess which cannot be well explained, they have torn themselves
away from the restraints incident to ,a reliance upon the truths
of Christianity ; and, to fill the void thus created, have suffered
their imaginations to form dreams, upon which they have loved
to dwell.

"Unsettled in their views, and united only in denying what
is by them termed a delusion of eighteen and a half centuries,
they needed but some mind, visionary as themselves, but more
stable, to draw up a creed, in the profession of which they all
should at once unite.

They wanted a guiding star, and such a jstar was, and .is,

28 PROFESSOR ANDERSON S

Andrew Jackson Davis, whose name is familiar to every rea-
der. Under his guidance all these skeptical minds have agreed
to pursue their favorite idea of 'Human Progress,' to disprove
Christianity, and to remodel science. Davis has succeeded in
uniting the visionaries of our country, and, by his feats of as-
serted communication with the other world, has made himself
the leader of a band— small, it is true, but steadily increasing.
We cannot pretend to say how or by whom bis books and lec-
tures have been written. We are not decided whether the
' rappings,'' which have assisted him in his professions, are to
be ascribed to 'mental delusion? or to 'ingenious imposture.'

" But whatever be the true state of the case, we cannot shut
our eyes to the fact that there is an organized body at work in
the community, and upon such grounds and principles as leave;
very little room to hesitate on the course proper to be pursued
with respect to it. Societies are being organized all over the
Union under the title of 'Harmonial Brotherhood,'' all profess-
ing the same things, and all working as much in unison as it is
possible they should. Their intentions are, < to reduce to the
test of reason' all the revelations of the Bible, rejecting those
truths which we cannot comprehend. Among such truths are
those upon which the generality of mankind rest their dearest
hopes here and hereafter, and those upon which the principles
of society are planted. It is Christianity itself against which
these infidels aim, and they claim from us a denial of its doc-
trines and mysteries because we cannot understand them. The
very idea seems unworthy a being of sound intellect, for what
an absurdity it is for (he finite mind to suppose t] a1 it can un-
derstand all the workings of the one infinite mind! All that
has been said may be completely summed up !>\ the use of the
remarks of Locke : 'If you do not understand the operatioi
your own finite mind, that thinking being within you, do not
deem it strange that you cannot comprehend the operations of
that eternal infinite mind' avIio made and governs all things,
and whom the heaven of heavens cannot contain."

This is the clasi of individuals who met at Springfield in

EXPOSE OF SPIRIT RAPPINGS. 29

Spiritual Convention extraordinary. I submit a quotation from
the speech of the delegate from Cleveland, Ohio, which will tell
your Christian readers who " he" is, and what his religion is :

"Mr. Finney, of Cleveland, Ohio, a noted 'speaking medi-
um,' then rose, and stated that in the city of his residence there
were seven hundred mediums, in various stages of devclope-
ment, and five thousand disciples. He stated that as the
churches there had opposed the movement, the spirits had
taken hold, and made mediums in the churches. Even the
school-children had spiritual circles. In Cincinnati there were
one thousand two hundred mediums. He then gave an in-
stance of the spirits splitting a table all in pieces, in order to
convince a company of skeptics. He said that in Cleveland,
while the churches were pining for spiritual life, there was
growing up around them the church of universal brotherhood,
endowed with spiritual life. Thus much he said, and more of
similar purport."

From the same authority (the New- York Herald of the 8th
April) I would also quote the following, in connection with
the above.

" The evening session was occupied, throughout a very long-
length, by an address by Mr. Finney, of Ohio, 'a smart man, with
fine natural powers of oratory, excellent wind, and a very high
developement of infidelity. His theme was the emancipation of
the human race from the slavery of error, and, in its discussion,
lie endeavored to illustrate and enforce the great law of human
progress, and kick over the Bible, the priests, and the church.
We cannot undertake to give an outline of his address, which,
in some points, was sufficiently ingenious, and in some points
sufficiently sound, but which, in its general tendency, was sub.
versive of all those principles which have formed the basis of
bviman progress this far, and which are broader and deeper
than have jet, save in one instance, found exemplification in
human life. When mankind have become as good as Christi.
anity can make them, we will call on Mr. Finney for more ea<
li rhtmsnt."

30 PKQFKSSOR ANJHSBSOn's

" Your " correspondent shows that " he " is one of those who
ought to hacc been, present at Springfield, in order to have held
forth upon

"That New Era in Moral Science."

God forbid that his predictions are ever to be attempted,
much less fulfilled ! Should such attempts be made, there will
be another "Revolution" as bloody (if not more so) as that
which gained the independence of this great nation.

Is the banner of Christianity to be trodden under foot, and the
flag or ensign of abominable Infidelity and Atheism to be raised
in your blessed country ? No ! The eyes of Christians will be
opened to this movement, who will, with the assistance of the
" True Ministers " of Christ's Gospel, use their combined in-
fluence to check the progress of this vile Atheistic imposture.

To start a new religion is always a profitable speculation.
Philosophy does not pay.

Mere Science and abstract truth do not attract a multitude.
A "gross lie " is easily accepted, as subtle truth is difficult to
understand. I am perfectly aware that, to the mass of the per-
sons now laboring under this spiritual delusion, all that I can
do to open their eyes will, perhaps, be fruitless, (yet I hope
not.) It is not to these that I address myself, but to those who
^are stronger minded, and whose aid I would enlist in exposing
and checking a system of fraud and jugglery which has sent so
many victims to the lunatic asylums, and dealt desolation and
death all around.

Your correspondent is more to be pitied than condemned
■when he advances as a fact, and in support of his argument,
" a spiritual communication from the ' Father of his Country.' "
All that I can say is, that he and the rest of his clique are a
disgrace to such a father. Washington ! the immortal Wash-
ington, sanctioning spiritualism .' No ! He was a Christian,
.and if his soul have any power in the world of spirits, he will
use that power to bar the progress of such an evident imposture.
Washington's standard was the banner of Christianity, which

Expose of spirit rafpings. .31

carried him victorious to the end of his glorious earthly career ;

a banner never stained, never tinted with the slightest spot of
infidelity !

What a species of blasphemy your correspondent would in-
troduce to support his argument. / hope the Great Disposer of
all Events has a more suitable regard for the great, t lit" x^irtu-
ous, and good, who the would leave this "vale of tears," than
ever to be called on, in the Spirit World, to perform such works
as are assigned to them by the Spirit Rappers. Christian
Americans, think for a moment of such a vile imposition. The
spirit of the immortal Washington condemned to obey the call of
unprincipled impostors, and rap on a table for their amusement !
No! my friends, no ! Such is not the fate or occupation of the
immortal Washington in the realms of God. In conclusion, I
beg to inform your correspondent that I have more faith in the
good old system (as I trust also the majority of American citi-
zens have) — that good old faith that has raised to eminence
every nation wherein it has been planted. Your correspondent
may look at the nations who have not admitted it, and still re-
pudiate it, and he will find that they are tottering on the very
verge of desolation and ruin. On these ruins the cross of Christ
will rise, and the desolate places will bear the good fruits of
Christianity, bringing blessings wherever it may find a habita-
tion or a home.

As a public character, all my actions in connection with, or
reference to the public, must be conducted publicly. This
being a great public question, it cannot be conducted privately.
If your correspondent thinks proper to make his appearance at
the Theatre or any other public place, I am ready to meet him
on his own terms. He calls himself a writing medium, and
that his communications are written under the influence of the
spirit. This I do not doubt, yet I rather think the spirits that
influenced him were those called, in the vulgate, ardent spirits.

With many thanks for past favors, and requesting an early
insertion of this, I remain yours, most obediently,

J. H. Andehson,
Fiofesyor of Natural Magic